UNILESA to tackle open grazing with NSCDC agro ranger officials, says VC

The University of Ilesa is taking proactive steps to curb the menace of open grazing on its campus by engaging the Agro Ranger Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Vice Chancellor Prof. Olufemi Asaolu stated that herders frequently allow their cattle to stray onto university grounds, creating an unacceptable situation. To tackle this, the university is establishing a collaboration with the agro rangers, aiming to have operatives stationed on campus who can communicate effectively with the herders and reduce the problem to a tolerable level.

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Just as we have herders as one of our national problems, they are still there near us here. What we have done to address that challenge is to engage agro rangers, who visit us regularly to assess the situation.

Beyond the issue of open grazing, the university is also confronting the threat of illegal mining activities. Prof. Asaolu described these perpetrators as operating under the cover of darkness, often armed, and creating dangerous trenches that pose a safety risk. While the university has previously apprehended some individuals involved in illegal mining, the challenge persists, particularly along the Osu/Ibadan road where large excavators are reportedly used openly.

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We are in the process of establishing a collaboration with the agro rangers group, which will enable their operatives to be resident on the campus. Those who will be hired must be able to speak the language the herders understand. With that the menace will be reduced to a tolerable extent.

During a media parley marking his third anniversary as Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asaolu also highlighted significant achievements of his administration. The university currently offers approximately 97 courses, all approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC). These include professional programs like Law, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, and Physiotherapy. Furthermore, the university has received NUC approval to commence a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program, pending final approval from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

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The issue of illegal miners is also confronting us. It is easy to accost herders who usually bring their cattle during the day. But the illegal miners, they operate in the dead of the night with arms.

From the perspective of the University of Ilesa and Osun State, these security and operational challenges are deeply intertwined with broader national issues. The presence of herders and illegal miners reflects persistent security concerns across Nigeria. The university's approach, combining engagement with security forces and highlighting academic growth, showcases a local effort to manage these complex problems. While international news might focus on national security or economic activities, this report highlights the specific, ground-level challenges faced by educational institutions in maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment, demonstrating resilience and a commitment to progress despite these obstacles.

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For a University that is just 3 years old, 40 of our academic programmes currently enjoy full accreditation status from the NUC. Additional programmes would be presented for the forthcoming accreditation exercise and for professional accreditation by relevant regulatory bodies.